Dental floss-holder.



No 69I ,58| Patented Ian. 2|, I902. A. BAUMEISTER.

DENTAL FLOSS HOLDER.

(Application filed June 20, 1901.)

(No Model.)

Whnzsses:

MM 2 W NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

AUGUSTE BAUMEISTER, on HAGENAU, GERMANY.

DENTAL FLOSS-HOLDER.'

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No, 691,581, dated January 21, 1902.

Application filed June 20,1901.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, AUGUSTE BAUMEISTER, a subject of the German Emperor, and a resident of Hagenau, Germany, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Teeth-Cleaning Devices, of which the following is a specification. I

The device for cleaning the spaces between the teeth which forms the object of this invention consists of a fork, between the pron gs of which a suitable thread is stretched. This thread is introduced between the teeth and is drawn backward and forward with a sawlike motion in order to remove any impurities, particles of food, tartar, or the like.

In order to easily make use of the device and to easily and properly clean the spaces between the canines and molars, the fork can be adjusted in any desired. position.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a front view of the device. Fig. 2 is a perspective View, the forked part being in another position. Figs. 3 and t show the-regulating device with two details.

The ends of the forked parta are furnished with grooves I), through which passes the thread-a silk-thread, for example or the thread may be replaced by hair, metal, or other suitable substance. One end of the fork in order to hold the thread may be bent over or furnished with a tail d. On the-other end of the fork is arranged a double hook or a spring e, around which the thread is passed several times or in which the said thread is fastened in order to hold it taut across the said fork. In order to fix the thread in a more suitable manner, it may be wound several times around a second hook or a similar springf, fixed to the handle g. The free end of the thread is held against the handle of the device by the finger when the said device is being used. 4

In order to hold the forked parts in various positions on the part g, forming the handle, the device is made in two parts, one part con-. sisting of the fork and the other of the handle. The fork portion has a head it, provided with a flat face, whiehcarries a small pin or peg h, and the handle g is likewise provided with a head 9, having a flat face with a: series of apertures t' therein. The heads 9 h are provided with registering apertures to receive Serial No. 65,23Q. (No model.) I

a thumb-screw carrying a thumb-piece at one end and held in engagementin the apertures forsecurin g the fork to the handle. The pin or peg it engages into one of the apertures t" l to prevent the fork from changing position once the pin is tightened, and when the pin 70 is loosened the heads 9 h" may be separated sufficiently to permit disengagement of the pin or peg h and the insertion thereof into another of the apertures i, so as to hold tending in a semicircle partially surrounding said central; aperture, a hook carried by said handle below said head, a U-shaped fork portion comprising two arms, an enlarged head having a flat engaging face correspondin g with said flat engaging face to the handle, said face being centrally a'pertured, a coneshaped peg carried by said engaging face of the fork to register in one of said cone- -shaped recesses formed in the opposite engaging face of the handle, a thumb-screw secured in the central openings of said heads, the said two arms of the fork portion having their outer extremities slotted, the upper: most of said slotted extremities of the arms being bent upwardly and then backwardly, a hook secured to the under side of the lower arm, the said upwardly-bent slotted end of the arm being adapted to receive the knotted end of the thread, which thread is then passed through the slotted extremity of the other arm, drawn taut, wrapped around the hook carried by the arm and secured to the hook carried by the handle all parts being arranged and operating substantially as described and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two witnesses.

AUGUSTE BAUMEISTER. Witnesses:

J ULIUs RABOLD, FRITZ BEZL. 

